• Identify your legislators
• Research legislator before trying to begin a relationship
  • Learn about the issues that matter to your legislator
• Send a card with a message thanking the legislator for supporting women’s or other issues important to you. Include a flyer or other information about AAUW
• Contact the legislator’s office about a month after the card to set up a personal meeting. You can send an email saying you will be calling to set up a meeting
  • Introduce yourself to the staff member who answers the phone
  • Explain that the meeting goal is to learn about issues the legislator is working on and to introduce the legislator to AAUW
• Once the meeting date is set, consider how many members should take part in the meeting.
  • Possible selections include:
    • The Public Policy chair to give an overview of AAUW and its mission
    • One member to discuss AAUW public policy priorities such as pay equity, and what legislation she/he plans to sponsor or support
    • One member to discuss branch plans for lobby day and to ask for the legislator’s help to identify key legislators who would be sympathetic to issues as well as legislators who hold opposing views.
• Ask about options for a meeting of a lobbying group in the capitol building or nearby.
• Follow up with a thank note and email

It’s important to remember that some people might be more effective lobbying a legislator of their own political persuasion. Be strategic when deciding who should lobby which legislator.

One other decision that needs to be made before a meeting with your legislator is whether to go it alone (lobby only as AAUW members) or lobby in coalition with other like-minded organizations.

For even more information, the AAUW website has a fact sheet on “How to Hold a Meeting with Your Elected Officials.” https://www.aauw.org/resource/how-to-hold-a-meeting-with-your-elected-officials/

Click here to download this information.